Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

B9
Excerpts from Remarks by Her Excellency
Reema Carmona, First Lady of the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago and Patron of the Diabetes
Association of Trinidad and Tobago (DATT) at
the Twenty-Third Annual Symposium on Dia-
betes Education held at the University of
Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), South Campus, San
Fernando on Saturday 15 June 2013.
I have been asked to be the Patron of the Dia-
betes Association of Trinidad and Tobago as well
as to deliver some remarks by way of declaring
this 23rd Annual Symposium on Diabetes Educa-
tion officially open. I am honoured to be the Pa-
tron and to be so engaged.
I must convey gratitude and appreciation to my
predecessor and former First Lady, Dr Jean
Ramjohn-Richards for the excellent role in assist-
ing and facilitating its mission to confront and re-
tard the diabetic scourge that can only redound to
enhancement of the quality of life among all citi-
zens in Trinidad and Tobago. Let us show our ap-
preciation to Dr. Jean Ramjohn-Richards.
Trinidad and Tobago with a population of just
over 1.3 million must come to terms with the fol-
lowing grim data on the impact of diabetes.
• Diabetes is the second most common cause of
death.
• More than 175,000 citizens suffer from this af-
fliction constituting nearly 12 % of the population
• Obesity and cigarette consumption continue to
increase to dangerous proportions
• Trinidad and Tobago is recently reported to have
the third most obese population
• More than 450 non-traumatic lower limb ampu-
tations occur in people with diabetes almost
every year. Foot problems account for approxi-
mately 14% of admissions and 29% of bed occu-
pancy at public hospitals. 50% of persons who
have lower limb amputations go into depression
and 20% die within two years.
The global picture of the incidence of diabetes is
also cause for concern with those afflicted with
the disease likely to double in about 25 years.
Diabetes negatively affects and challenges our
quality of life and human resource capital. Poor
eating habits, lack of exercise and obesity are
• THE FAMILY MEDICINE CENTRE
Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas 671-1893
• CHAGUANAS PHARMACY
Main Road, Chaguanas 671-7251
• ST. JAMES PHARMACY
Western Main Road, St. James
622-0321
0714007
THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION
OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
ON THE SUCCESS OF THEIR
23rd Annual Symposium
Bringing Education, Awareness,
Training and Research
known factors responsible for the
onset of diabetes and urgent correc-
tive contingency measures must be
adopted by NGO's and the state to
stem this tide. Diabetes impairs the
productive capacity of those afflicted
and constitutes a huge financial drain
on the health sector especially the
health institutions.
What is required is a multi-sectoral
community development and en-
hancement programme that serves
to:
• reduce obesity;
• encourage sports and physical fit-
ness;
• practice good, wholesome healthy
eating and diet.
I am pleased to see that there is a
national effort to rehabilitate and
modernize sporting facilities nation-
wide.
It will inculcate, develop and in-
crease the love of sport and physical
exercise. A fit Trinidad and Tobago
will be a happy and productive nation
that can take its rightful place in the
family nations. The primary school
and the host communities must be
our first targets to effecting radically
different life-style changes that are
so urgently needed as a counter-
measure not only to reduce the
prevalence but also postpone the
onset of diabetes, high blood pres-
sure and cardio-vascular diseases.
Obesity is too rampant in the pri-
mary and secondary schools and we
as a nation must address this anath-
ema by the elimination of junk food
in the school lunch kit.
I congratulate the Diabetes Associ-
ation of Trinidad and Tobago for the
work that it has been doing to create
awareness and to increase public ed-
ucation geared to empower citizens
with the knowledge and skills to
manage their diabetic-related chal-
lenges. This annual symposium con-
tributes to generating the requisite
awareness as well as taking on board
the latest medical approach to man-
aging the scourge of diabetes. I am
pleased to see the establishment of
various regional branches that are all
present today at this Symposium
and which represent mechanisms to
strengthen the outreach to the wider
communities.
Her Excellency Mrs Reema Carmona giving speech